LAHORE - Due to lack of effective price control mechanism, the price of wheat flour has increased at least Rs 10 per 20kg bag just in few days. The much-hyped good governance of the Punjab government is no more effective, as there is no check on the rates of wheat flour in market that has witnessed an increase of at least Rs 10 per 20kg bag thus touching the price of the bag Rs 525 from Rs 515 just in few days. Market sources said that the rate of subsidised 20kg flour bag, available at utility stores and fair price shops, was constantly increasing while the wheat flour bag of 10kg in the open retail market was being sold at Rs 320. Hence its availability on retailer outlets is not leas than Rs 32 per kg. The sources said the retailers had no fear of the district or provincial administration, as they were charging their own rates. Market experts said the country had harvested a bumper wheat crop of over 25 million tons this year but due to non-availability of an effective price control mechanism, the inflation-hit masses were not getting any benefit of the good crop and were continuously facing the ever-increasing rates of kitchen items. The rates of ghee, cooking oil, sugar, tea and pulses are constantly increasing just owing to lack of any strong administration which could control this menace, they said. The market sources further added that there was abundant stock of wheat flour in the city but there was no check on rates. The buyers said it seemed that the federal and the Punjab governments had joined hands to facilitate only the privileged class and had left the masses at the mercy of hoarders. They said the govt was playing with sentiments of the poor by presenting mini-budgets. They blasted the hike in flour prices and demanded the government to take remedial measures in this regard. All Pakistan Flourmills Association increased ex-mills rates in various categories in different cities of Punjab on their own without the consent of Punjab Food Department, they said. The buyers said in most of the markets of Lahore the 20 kg flour bags were openly sold at higher price than the rates fixed by the government. They argued the situation had worsened, as there was no government rate at all. Every retailer is absolutely free to sell the commodity according to his own wish, they maintained. They said overcharging was rampant in each and every market and bazaars of the city while the chief ministers good governance seemed to be disappeared from the scene.